Carpet Insulation

[eco325iX]

Where can I buy insulation that goes underneath the carpet? I've tried Autozone, NAPA, O'reilly, etc... I can't find anyone that sells insulation for automobiles besides the internet.

What does everyone use when they do a complete rebuild?

[PiercedE30]

paint......carpet makes you slower

[Brian D]

Go to an automotive upholstery shop.

[Jscotty]

What you are talking about is felt carpet padding that is on most cars. There is a residential grade that you can buy in home depot which is relatively cheap and it works great. Because its a natural fiber, you cannot get it excessively wet without the risk of getting mildew setting in. I mean through normal use (rain, snow, etc) does not present a problem. But say if you have a leak in the car that causes it to consistently hold standing water, then that can be a problem. If you can find a synthetic version of this felt or go to an upulstry shop (as Q-ship suggested) it will cost you more but at least you will not have to bleach the rug in the event you spill your fishtank in the car.

[eco325iX]

The yellowish foam padding that is in there now or I should say the foam padding that came in there when the car was new has a thin plastic coating on both sides of it. It isn't felt like your describing. The padding under the rear seat above the gas tank is felt. I've seen some photos of rebuild jobs where they apply this padding that has an adhesive side that sticks to the flooring and the top/opposite side has an aluminum foil coating on it for thermal resistance. I guess that's what I was thinking of. It must serve as a noise dampener and heat resistance shield all together.

I'll check out that automotive upholstery shop tomorrow to see what they have.

[e34john]

I would also check out an upholstery shop.

But theres this new stuff for tile underlayment that is like a flexible foam board that had an adhesive backing, might be pretty effective while remaining light weight.

[zydio]

i think you are wanting to use dynamat or fatmat. ebay has some good deals on fatmat. it says its thicker and better than dynamat but i cant say for sure. im going to get the fatmat just because its thicker and im going to line my whole interior and trunk with it. i had dynamat done this way in one of my other cars and it makes a world of difference for thermal and sound insulation. the car will be alot more quiet inside. i havent done it to my e30 yet cuz i still havent replaced the carpet. when i do ill be using fatmat and will be putting it on the entire floor, behind the front and rear door panels, kick panels and rear deck as well as the trunk. the last i checked was about $100 for 100 sq. ft. on ebay. heres a link to some of this on ebay:

http://search.ebay.com/dynamat_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQcatrefZC6QQfromZR10QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ3QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsabfmtsZ1QQsacatZQ2d1QQsaobfmtsZinsifQQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsbrsrtZd

[zydio]

or www.fatmat.com

[ejnight]

use dynamat and it will be quiet keeping the road noise out.

[Jscotty]

i think you are wanting to use dynamat or fatmat. ebay has some good deals on fatmat. it says its thicker and better than dynamat but i cant say for sure.

But the beauty of Dynamat is that its relatively thin so that it does not interfere with the normal installation of the factory carpeting, trunk underlayment, and door panels.

[zydio]

thats what i was thinkin, i think fatmat is meant for bass competitions, right? dynamat should be enough. but dynamat costs alot more.